Connecticut western news., 1887-07-06
A FRIEND IN NEED
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.


 'Mothcr, mother! there's one of the fine ladies from the hotel settin' in the best room a-askin' for drink O water And she says she wants it drawed right outen the old wei; md how can it wh,u the buckets broker
 Little Bennie Bliss had not tho least idea how picturesque he looked, with h's trouscr, rolled above the knees, and hitchcd up by q string and nail, and the ragged edges of his hat-brim cast ing irregular shadows on his sunburned face.
 Mra Bliss hurricdly took her arms out of tho wash tub, and wiped the silver fringes of soap studs with the roller towel.
 "Oh, dear," she sighed, 'I wish the fine ladies would select any other than. wash day morning to make their visits"
 But the next instant her hospitable heart stung her for the reflection.
 ''Run, Benny" she said, land let the tin-pail down the well-and be careful, for there's firkin of butter hanging there to cool-and pour tho water into the speckled pitcher-the one without tho cracked spout, dear-and bring it in, with the glass tumbler."
 (Which tumbler, mother.2" -,,
 ''Oh, dear, there isn't but oner' sighed Mrs Bliss, hurriedly trying on clean gingham apron to conceal the de- ficiencies of her we'll worn wash-day gown. 'The other was cracked against the edge of the sink this morning. And be sure it's clean and bright, Benny, there's dear"
 Thus speaking, Mrs. Bliss lifted the boiler of clothes off the stove, to make sure of no mishap in her absence, shut tho door to keep out buff hen, with nix buff chicks, who were marauding around the step, and hurried into the genteel gloom of the ''best room" " where the green-pape, shades were pulled down, and yesterdays bunch of cinnamon roses was whitening in mo- handled milk-jug.
 MrA Sevier sat there, in dress of pale lilac muslin, looped hero and there with ribbons of deeper shade, an i'm mense Japanese fan in her hand, and { prevailing scent of frangipanni surround- ing her as with an atmosphere. No greater contrast could have been presented than that between this butter fly of languid leisure and the poor little working bee who stood opposite her, ir tho calico dress, and the face flushed with homely exercise.
 ''So sorry to trouble your' smiled Mrs. Sevicr. ''But my poor throat wal parched, and the we'll under the button ball-trees did look so refrcshing"
 ''Oh, it's no trouble "' said Mrs. Bliss with more politeness than truth. 'My boy will bring you drink directly Here he comes now"
 And Master Benny made his appear ance with pitcher of cool water in on, hand and tho one remaining famil, tumblcr in the other.
 'sIs it out of that dear, old-time wcll7' lisped Mir. Sevicr.
 "Yes'm!' said Benny, eagerly. '' drawed it myself. The buckets broke but let down Q tin-pail. The butter gone headlong down the well, mother for"
 "Hush, Benny" said Mrs. Bliss, con cealing her anguish as best she migh under an exterior of forced calmness.
 ''Deliciousr' ejaculatcd the visitor setting down the tumbler. '.Like liqui diamonds frozen into coolness. An, by the-way, ma'am, Pve been looking s that dear old family B.blc of yours l" 8 her capricious glance fell on ponder ous russet-bound volume which occupie the post of honor on the cherry woo table beneath the gilt-framed looking glass. ..-z---. -.. Mrs. Bliss flushed with pardonabl sI
 pride.
 "Yes," said she, ''it has been in or family for over seventy years. } belonged to my poor husbands grand father"
 : 'I am rather an enthusiast on tt subject of family bibles," simpered Mr. Scvier, who was one of those ladies wh T are always posing to imaginary a' diences. 'Tn fact, Pm making . col lection of them. And if you dent min parting with it, I'll give you five dollal } for this one"
 - Mrs Bliss recoiled little, asif som' ' thing had struck her. . '4Oh, I couldn't!" said she. e ? bsloessd to my poor husbaad's grand
 fatAe9. And-n